Yet More 'Quality' Journalism

The Australian is capable of objectivity in the case of China: "The al-Qa'ida call for vengeance [against China's crackdown on Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang] will be used by China to provide greater credibility, domestically and abroad, for its rhetorical concerns about the dangers from Muslim activism." (Al-Qa'ida to take on Beijing, Rowan Callick, 15/7/09)

But can you imagine the same degree of objectivity in the case of Israel? namely 'The Hamas call for vengeance [against Israel's massacres of Palestinians in Gaza] will be used by Israel to provide greater credibility, domestically and abroad, for its rhetorical concerns about the dangers of Muslim activism.'

And how about this on SBS' 6.30 News last night: "It's not the first time Israel faced criticism of its Gaza offensive, claimed by Palestinians to have cost more than 900 civilian lives." (Israeli soldiers speak out)

Contrast this with how the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) reported Gaza's death toll: "Over the course of the 22 day Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip, a total of 1,417 Palestinians were killed. Of these, 236 were combatants. The vast majority of the dead... were civilians and non-combatants: protected persons according to the principles of international humanitarian law. PCHR investigations confirm that, in total, 926 civilians lost their lives... 255 police officers were also killed; the majority (240) in air strikes carried out on the first day of the attacks." (Press Release, 12/3/09)

Even that figure can only be provisional. With the finding of yet another decomposed body under Gaza's sea of rubble, according to a Palestinian Health Ministry official, "the number of those who were killed during the Israeli war on Gaza amounts to 1,505." (Medics identify 1,505th victim of Gaza assault, Ma'an News Agency, 11/7/09)

From now on, when SBS reports Israeli death tolls, I'll expect them to leave out both cops and combatants. And I'll also expect them to use a qualifier such as claimed or alleged.